The fate of Canberra United's Boxing Day clash rests in the hands of team doctors and W-League match officials as they prepare to face a smoke haze.
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FFA officials say conditions seem to be clearing, however they will take no risks should Canberra's air quality soar into the hazardous threshold in United's clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers at McKellar Park on Thursday night.
The by-product of the NSW bushfires caused a Big Bash match at Manuka Oval and an Australian Baseball League game in Narrbundah to be abandoned last Saturday.
Canberra co-captain Nikola Orgill came from the field in Adelaide on Sunday to use an asthma puffer due to the surrounding smoke.
FFA officials would look to reschedule the game if the smoke haze took hold given competition regulations do not allow for points to be split.
United found themselves in a similar predicament last summer when a game at Seiffert Oval was abandoned due to lightning.
But Canberra coach Heather Garriock is confident her side will be able to cope and rise above adversity in a date with the side she labels the competition benchmark.
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"It only changed one session to be honest, we did an indoor session but we were able to get our tactical stuff out," Garriock said.
"It could play a part, but we've been training in it for over a month now so we know how to overcome adversity. Hopefully the game is not changed.
"In the game the other nine day we had nine players at some points, we had one with a broken nose and another had to come off with a puffer.
"We've definitely got the character, we've got the culture this season, we've got the finesse up front.
"We need to be defensively disciplined, that's the most important thing."
A win over the resurgent Western Sydney outfit would mark Canberra United's best start to a campaign in Garriock's three-season tenure.
The reason for the turnaround is simple in Garriock's eyes - she hasn't just recruited players who are happy to be here and tick the boxes.
The United mentor has found players with "a purpose" which has them determined to lead Canberra back to the W-League finals.
"They've all got a tenacity and a bit of swagger about them," Garriock said.
"Every single player in the 23 is committed to wanting to make a difference and they're all up for selection week in, week out. It makes my job hard.
"We're pushing each other, we've got a great group, but Thursday night is so important for us to build confidence."